Tourniquet

ABSTRACT

A tourniquet in the form of a ring in which the inner wall is a membrane of latex rubber forming a toroidal chamber with its support. Inside the chamber, there are provided a series of strings, each having one end secured to the support of the ring while the other end is secured to a toothed annular member inside the chamber. A pinion operable from outside the ring, is in mesh with this toothed member so that when rotated in one direction, the strings act on the inner rubber wall to expand it inwardly and thus close the ring opening.

[451 July 11,1972

1 41 TOURNIQUET [72] Inventor: Oscar Gauthier, Ville Brossard, Provinceof Quebec, Canada {73] Assignee: Clebel Inc, L'Ange-Gardien, Co.Rouville,

Queen, Canada [22] Filed: July [4, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 841,445

2,882,903 4/1959 Ramien..................................l28/327 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 6l5,80l 7/1935Germany.....................4........l28/325 Primal Examiner-Channing L.Pace Attorney-Raymond A. Robic ABSTRACT A tourniquet in the form of aring in which the inner wall is a membrane of latex rubber forming atoroidal chamber with its support. Inside the chamber, there areprovided a series of strings, each having one end secured to the supportof the ring while the other end is secured to a toothed annular memberinside the chamber. A pinion operable from outside the ring. is in meshwith this toothed member so that when rotated in one direction thestrings act on the inner rubber wall to expand it inwardly and thusclose the ring opening.

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sum 10F 2 INVENTOR Oscar GAUTHIER ATTORNEY PATENTEDJUL 1 1 1912 SHEET 20f 2 INVENTOR Oscar GAUTHIER ATTORNEY rouamourzr The present inventionrelates to tourniquets, that is to a device intended to be mountedaround a limb to stop bleeding. The device is also adaptable formounting around the male organ of generation to restrict bloodcirculation therethrough in order to cause erection thereof in the caseof an impotent or semi-potent male.

The main object of the invention lies in the provision of such a device:(a) capable of applying a pressure distributed uniformly around the limbor organ; (b) that can easily be pressurized and readily released; (c)that positively and safely lock into the desired closing position; and(d) that is simple in construction as well as in use.

Many devices of this general type have been proposed throughout theyears. ln some of these, such as the ones disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.1,073,525 and 1,225,000, particularly intended for use over and around amale organ, the pressure is applied at localized points around the organand thus provides an unsatisfactory control of the blood circulationthrough the organ and further tends to be painful to the user.

in a more recent development disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,604,098,specifically intended to be used to completely stop or restrict the flowof blood through a limb, the pressure is applied slightly more uniformlybut still tends to concentrate on two opposite points of the limb,giving rise to imperfect blood circulation control. The device of thispatent operates by tightening a belt around a limb much in the samemanner as is the case with a waist belt. Apart from the tendency toconcentrate the pressure at localized points, such a device would likelycrimp and pinch the skin and would thus be painful to the user.

Other devices such as those of U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,045,750 and 2,468,133make use of a flexible tube that is wound or placed around the limb, airbeing used to inflate and pressurized it. These devices obviate thedrawback of localized pressure. However, one obvious disadvantage isthat they require a source of fluid pressure, either from a pump or froma compressed air container, that is separate from the tourniquet proper.Furthermore, such a system is more prone to breakdown than the earliermechanical contrivances of U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,073,525 and 1,225,000. Thesedevices would also be totally unsuitable for use by impotent orsemi-potent males.

I have overcome the abovementioned difficulties by providing acompletely self-contained tourniquet wherein the pressure can be applieduniformly around the limb or male organ by mechanical pressure-applyingmeans and that can likewise be mechanically controlled to thus provide ahighly reliable and readily controllable device. More specifically, thetourniquet of my invention comprises a ring which is formed of a rigidannular outer support and of an inner resilient wall, the support andthe wall defining a toroidal chamber having a central opening. There isprovided within the chamber a mechanical pressure applying meansoperative to apply a substantially uniform pressure on the resilientwall to cause it to contract against its own resiliency to thus reducethe diameter of the central opening. This pressure applying meanscomprises a plurality of strings within the chamber, the centralportions of the strings being distributed around the central opening andbeing applied against the resilient wall with the free ends extending inthe direction of the rigid annular support. The pressure applying meansfurther comprises rotary means in the chamber to which the free ends ofthe strings are fixed, this rotary means being operative upon rotationto cause the strings to become taut around the resilient wall and forceit into an iris-type closure. Finally, the pressure applying meanscomprises an actuator which is operable from outside the ring to rotatethe rotary means.

A better understanding of the invention will be afforded by thefollowing description having reference to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tourniquet made according to theinvention, in released position;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line ll-ll of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the tourniquet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the tourniquet with the resilientmembrane removed;

FIG. 5 is a transverse partial sectional view on an enlarged scalethrough the pressure control means.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the preferredembodiment of the invention comprises a ring 1 formed of an outer rigidannular support 3 and of a inner wall 5 on the inward side thereofwhereby to define a toroidal chamber 7. The inner wall 5 to be morefully described hereinafter, is an endless resilient membrane, U-shapedin cross-section, which is preferably made of latex rubber. in FIG. 3,membrane 5 is shown as split, into two parts, through the bight of theU, for purpose of illustration.

As mentioned previously, mechanical pressure applying means is providedwithin the chamber 7 and is operative to apply a substantially uniformpressure all around the resilient membrane 5 to cause its contraction,against its own resiliency, and thus reduce the diameter of the opening.in this manner, blood circulating through a limb or organ may becontrolled or completely stopped. The pressure applying means comprisesrotary means including an annular member 9 mounted for rotation insideof and relative to the support 3. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, theannular member 9 is toothed along the outer periphery thereof. A seriesof strings 11 provides the required pressure for inwardly deflecting theresilient wall 5. One end of each string is fixed to the annular member9, in any convenient manner, to thus be brought into rotation therewith.The other ends of strings 11 are connected to stationary members thatcan be considered as forming part of the annular support 3 and that willbe referred to more specifically hereinafier.

Strings 11 are preferably made of short lengths of piano wire coveredwith a nylon tube.

The said rotary means further includes a groove on the inner surface ofthe annular support 3 for the reception of the rotary member 9. Thisguiding groove is formed by a pair of outer rings 13 and 15 and a pairof inner rings l7, 19. The outer ring 13 is formed with a beveled edge21 that sits against a corresponding inclined shoulder of the annularsupport 3, proper. The inner lateral wall of outer ring 13 has asemi-circular groove 23 into which a correspondingly shaped lobe 25 ofthe resilient wall 5 is nested. The inner ring 17 is made to restagainst this lobe 25 to lock the same in the groove 23. The ends ofalternating strings I 1 is secured into this ring l7 A similarconstruction is provided on the opposite side of annular support 3relative to the rotary member 9. Thus, there are successively providedthe other inner ring 19 to which the ends of the other alternatingstrings 11 are fastened and the second outer ring 15 provided with alikewise semi-circular groove 23 for the reception of the lobe 25 alongthe other edge of the resilient inner wall 5.

Rings l3, l7, l9 and 15 are respectively formed with key slots 27, 29,31 and 33 (FIG. 3) for the reception of a key 37 (FIG. 5) alsoreceivable in a key slot 35 formed on the inner surface of the annularsupport 3 proper. in this manner, it will be understood that rings l3,l7, l9 and 15 are held against rotation with respect to support 3 andmay be considered as forming part of this annular support providing theaforementioned guiding groove means. On the other hand, it will beappreciated that the rotary member 9 is free to rotate in the aforesaidguiding groove means, between the inner rings l7, 19.

There is provided an actuating means operable from outside the ring 1 tocause rotation of the rotary annular member 9. It comprises a pinion 39,the teeth of which are in mesh with the teeth of the annular member 9,and it is mounted for rotation on an axle 4l borne by a pair of spacedbrackets 45 upstanding from support 3.

The assembly forming the guiding groove, referred to above, is held fromslipping but of support 3 by a flexible string 47 slid into acircumferential groove formed on support 3 and outer ring 15, as shownin FIG. 2.

In order to allow for pinion 39 to reach rotary annular member 9,suitable slots 49, 51, 53 and 55 are formed on rings l3, l7, l9 and 15,respectively.

IIII o clockwise, according to arrow a of FIG. 5, it will drive thero-",

tary annular member 9 into clockwise rotation according to arrow bforcing the ends of strings 11, secured thereto, to rotate and in viewof the fact that other ends of strings 11 are attached to non-rotaryelements and press on an annular resilient wall 5, the various stringswill be forced to describe a circle as shown in FIG. 4, the circlegetting smaller as pinion 39 is rotate further. In this manner, aclosure of the iris-type is I obtained causing an even distribution ofthe pressure all around the ring opening.

FIG. 5 particularly illustrates locking means intended to hold theresilient wall 5 in predetermined contracted position against its ownresiliency, this means comprising a spring leaf pawl 57 held fixed atone end along the outer peripheries of rings 3 and 13 and having alength such as to become engaged with the teeth of the pinion 39 in amanner illustrated in FIG. 5. A push button 13, extending throughsupport 3 and riveted at the inner end thereof to avoid its release fromsupport 3, serves to disengage the leaf spring pawl 57 in the mannershown in dotted lines in FIG. 5.

For larger size tourniquets, it is suggested that the ends of axle 60 beformed with polygonal recesses for rotation of pinion 45 by means of acorrespondingly polygonal key.

With the above mentioned combination, it will be appreciated that anextremely simple, efficient and safe tourniq uet has been provided. Byclosing in the central opening of ring 1, the necessary pressure isapplied to the limb or organ to provide the required control of theblood circulation. It will also be appreciated that if the pressure isgreat enough, the flow of blood will be stopped completely. Furthermore, if sufficient pressure is applied when the tourniquet isused on the human organ of generation, near the pubis, outflow of thesperm will be prevented, the tourniquet then becoming a contraceptivedevice.

I claim:

1. A tourniquet comprising:

a. a ring formed of a rigid annular outer support and an inner resilientwall, said inner wall being an endless resilient membrane having lateraledges secured to the lateral edges of said support whereby said supportand wall define a toroidal chamber having a central opening;

b. mechanical pressure applying means within said chamber operative toapply a substantially uniform pressure on said resilient wall to causecontraction thereof against its resiliency to thus reduce the diameterof said opening,

said pressure applying means comprising:

a plurality of strings within said chamber, the central portions of saidstrings being distributed around said central opening and being appliedagainst said resilient wall with the free ends thereof extending in thedirection of said rigid annular support;

rotary means in said chamber to which the free ends of said strings arefixed, said rotary means being operative upon rotation to cause saidfree ends to approach one another whereby said strings tighten aroundsaid resilient wall to force it into an iris-type closure, and

actuating means operable from outside said ring to rotate said rotarymeans.

2. A tourniquet as claimed in claim I wherein said actuating meansincludes releasable locking means to hold said resilient wall inpredetermined contracted position against its own resiliency.

3. A tourniquet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotary meanscomprises:

means defining a groove on the inner surface of said support;

an annular member mounted in said groove for rotation relative to saidannular support, and wherein one end of each of said string: is fixed tosaid annular member to be brought into rotation therewith and the otherend is fixed to said annular support, said ends being spaced along thecircumferences of said annular member and of said sup- 4. A tourniquetas claimed in claim 11 wherein said annular member is toothed along theouter periphery thereof and said rotary means further comprises a pinionmounted for rotation on said annular support and in mesh with saidannular member.

5. A tourniquet as claimed in claim 2 wherein said locking means is aspring leaf pawl secured at one end tangentially inwardly of saidsupport for engagement by the other end thereof with said pinion.

6. A tourniquet as claimed in claim 5 including a releasing buttonfreely extending through said annular support adjacent the end of saidpawl engageable with said pinion; said button causing release, whenpressed, of said pawl from said pinion by moving said pawl away fromsaid pinion against its own resiliency.

i It 4 i

1. A tourniquet comprising: a. a ring formed of a rigid annular outersupport and an inner resilient wall, said inner wall being an endlessresilient membrane having lateral edges secured to the lateral edges ofsaid support whereby said support and wall define a toroidal chamberhaving a central opening; b. mechanical pressure applying means withinsaid chamber operative to apply a substantially uniform pressure on saidresilient wall to cause contraction thereof against its resiliency tothus reduce the diameter of said opening, said pressure applying meanscomprising: a plurality of strings within said chamber, the centralportions of said strings being distributed around said central openingand being applied against said resilient wall with the free ends thereofextending in the direction of said rigid annular support; rotary meansin said chamber to which the free ends of said strings are fixed, saidrotary means being operative upon rotation to cause said free ends toapproach one another whereby said strings tighten around said resilientwall to force it into an iris-type closure, and actuating means operablefrom outside said ring to rotate said rotary means.
 2. A tourniquet asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes releasablelocking means to hold said resilient wall in predetermined contractedposition against its own resiliency.
 3. A tourniquet as claimed in claim1 wherein said rotary means comprises: means defining a groove on theinner surface of said support; an annular member mounted in said groovefor rotation relative to said annular support, and wherein one end ofeach of said strings is fixed to said annular member to be brought intorotation therewith and the other end is fixed to said annular support,said ends being spaced along the circumferences of said annular memberand of said support.
 4. A tourniquet as claimed in claim 11 wherein saidannular member is toothed along the outer periphery thereof and saidrotary means further comprises a pinion mounted for rotation on saidannular support and in mesh with said annular member.
 5. A tourniquet asclaimed in claim 2 wherein said locking means is a spring leaf pawlsecured at one end tangentially inwardly of said support for engagementby the other end thereof with said pinion.
 6. A tourniquet as claimed inclaim 5 including a releasing button freely extending through saidannular support adjacent the end of said pawl engageable with saidpinion; said button causing release, when pressed, of said pawl fromsaid pinion by moving said pawl away from said pinion against its ownresiliency.